Is this Pakistan's 2023 World Cup winning squad?

[MenInG]

 

[Rana]

Not with the hole we have at number 4

 

[shady]

Haris Sohail for Shan Masood, and Mohammad Amir for Ihsanullah would be the two changes I would make but otherwise its a pretty good squad.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Almost there.

Only ones missing are: Imad Wasim and Haris Sohail. Imad is actually an allrounder compared to Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Sohail will solve our middle order woes.

Team is looking pretty good for subcontinental conditions. Thing being, are they mentally tough enough to face the big four under all that WC pressure?

 

[Nado_]

I just feel we’re missing a killer world class spinner , but what else options do we have

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Semis at best. Unfortunately choking has become a national illness under Babar Azam.

 

[Saj]

2 or 3 problem positions.

Overall the batting is a concern over-relying on Fakhar, Babar.

 

[Major]

Remove Abdullah Shafique, Haris Sohail and Shan Masood, and we are good to go.

Haris is fat, abdullah shafique is still too raw and might end up like haider ali. He needs more domestic cricket and should play the world cup this year. Shan Masood is walking wicket.

Should had tried Harris and Kamran Ghulam. Iftikhar should had been added in the team earlier.

Bowling is perfect. Zaman Khan would be risky. And Usama Mir is a wicket taking option, shadab is alright. Imad wasim dont think he is needed in odi, but if we nee a third spinner anyone of nawaz or Imad works. However i would prefer ibrar ahmed because he spins the ball.

But bowling wise we good, batting needs few tweeks.

 

[sweep_shot]

Apart from middle order, they are looking pretty strong for Indian conditions.

Babar and Fakhar should have a good time in India.

 

[hitthestump]

I'd say the squad has formulated pretty well. Most of the current players will be there come India and the majority of the first XI is sorted.

A few questions remain:

1) Identity and order of the number 4-6 batsmen

2) Assuming we play 3 pacers, who takes the final fast bowling spot (Rauf, Wasim?)

3) Assuming we play 3 spinners, who will be the second to Shadab (Nawaz, Imad, Usama Mir?)

 

[Justcrazy]

If you want to win InIndian conditions , you need to do what Lanka did in 1996 .

Have explosive openers , have depth in middle order to cover up for early loss .

Have a gun OD spinner , and couple of other spinners who are batting allrounders.

Having couple of accurate fast bowlers.

 

[Kianig89]

Not really middle order is weak lack of quality power hitters and shrewd kaptaani , things to address for

 

[Suleiman]

Remove Shan, and then we’re set. But we know now that there’s some shady people behind the selection, so whatever.

But overall, yes. In Sha Allah. Whatever anyone here may think of whether PCB should boycott the WC or not, I really REALLY hope we don’t pull out.

The BCCI Vs PCB drama is symbolic anyway. No matter what either of their representatives say.

What better way to end this natak then walk in to India, and take home the cup in front of billions in what is arguably our best chance to do so since the 96 WC considering our team atm.

 

[Suleiman]

I'd say the squad has formulated pretty well. Most of the current players will be there come India and the majority of the first XI is sorted.

A few questions remain:

1) Identity and order of the number 4-6 batsmen

2) Assuming we play 3 pacers, who takes the final fast bowling spot (Rauf, Wasim?)

3) Assuming we play 3 spinners, who will be the second to Shadab (Nawaz, Imad, Usama Mir?)

Valid questions, but I think overall these are good problems to have because we have a surplus of players for each of the 3 options you listed.

I would rather have that, then depend on 1 guy, who if injured messes everything up.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Pak are a formidable team in subcontinent. Their bowling is top class and batting has improved so much in the last 4 years.

The only weakness I see is late order hitting. Iftikar, Shadab do not inspire my ch confidence against good bowling units.

I was surprised to not see Saim Ayub not in the NZ odi series. Instead Pakistan persisted with old man like Ifitkar and failures like Shan Masood.

 

[MenInG]

Am really not sure how Shan can fit in this?

He had a chance to do well in Pakistan but failed. How will he do well in India?

 

[Energy]

There's no place for anyone else now. Mohammed Haris, Iftikhar, Usama, Wasim have done enough to seal their spots.

Imam, Fakhar, Babar, Iftikhar, Rizwan, Salman, Shadab, Usama, Shaheen, Naseem, Rauf.

Abdullah, Wasim, Haris, Imad making up the 15.

 

[gazza619]

Babar is the batter of his generation but I have reservations on his leadership style. He has far too many friends in the team and appears to be too soft.

Soft captains rarely win World Cups.

 

[Asif321]

No . Everytime Pakistan go with high hopes they mess up . Expecting them to crumble under pressure

 

[Duckworth Lewis]

Semi finals

 

[Saj]

Babar is the batter of his generation but I have reservations on his leadership style. He has far too many friends in the team and appears to be too soft.

Soft captains rarely win World Cups.

Right regarding captaincy.

Babar's captaincy could be a problem at key moments.

When it really matters he goes missing as a skipper and his decision making can lack clarity.

 

[JattMaula]

This team reminds me of India's team for 2015-19 WCs.

Run scoring top three. Inexperienced middle order. One/two good bowlers.

India did very well in league phases and faltered in semis.

Best of luck Pakistan!

 

[YousafTheBeast]

If Imam is being dropped for good then it only makes sense to replace him with Sharjeel Khan.

Replace Masood with Ayub.

Fakhar Zaman
Mohammad Haris
Babar Azam (c)
Salman Agha
Ifthikar Ahmed
Mohammad Rizwan +
Shaheen Afridi
Haris Rauf
Usama Mir
Shadab Khan
Naseem Shah

Ihsanullah (reserve fast bowler)
Saim Ayub (reserve opener)
Sharjeel Khan (reserve opener)
Haris Sohail (reserve middle order)
Imad Wasim / Mo Nawaz (reserve slow bowler)

We’re only a couple of more tweets away from getting this team.

 

[mon858]

Imam, Fakhar, Babar, Iftikhar, Rizwan, Salman, Shadab, Imad, Shaheen, Naseem, Rauf.

12-15: Mo Wasim, Nawaz, Saim Ayub (could come and play Inzy like knocks of 92?), Mo. Haris (Same as Saim, plus keeper backup)

injury reserves: Haris Sohail (if himself not injured), Abdullah Shafiq, Zaman Khan, Ihsanuallah, Abrar (leg spin backup), Abbas Afridi.

Shan - not in 15, not in reserves.

 

[TeymurBlake]

I do think there are a few holes in the team that need to fill. Fakhar, Imam & Babar are locked for top 3. Rizwan at 5. Now Ifti & Agha Salman are going to be a part of the lineup, just don't know where. The pace attack picks itself with Shaheen, Haris & Naseem.

The spin area is questionable for me. Shadab Khan & Mohammad Nawaz are declining which would be Usama Mir should come in at No.8. Imad Wasim doesn't look like is required in ODI cricket right now. Ifti & Agha can add depth to spin attack. But Pakistan should go for a left arm spinner, preferably Zafar Gohar but it's too late for experimentation unless he has a really impressive Royal London Cup, so you probably will have to go with Nawaz. It seems like the squad is relatively picked.

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam-ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Agha Ali Salman
5. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
6. Iftikhar Ahmed
7. Usama Mir
8. Mohammad Nawaz
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Haris Rauf

12. Mohammad Haris
13. Mohammad Wasim Jnr
14. Shadab Khan
15. Ihsanullah

Injury Reserves:
16. Tayyab Tahir
17. Haris Sohail
18. Abdullah Shafique
19. Aamer Jamal

This is the best side I could name.

 

[Bilal7]

I do think there are a few holes in the team that need to fill. Fakhar, Imam & Babar are locked for top 3. Rizwan at 5. Now Ifti & Agha Salman are going to be a part of the lineup, just don't know where. The pace attack picks itself with Shaheen, Haris & Naseem.

The spin area is questionable for me. Shadab Khan & Mohammad Nawaz are declining which would be Usama Mir should come in at No.8. Imad Wasim doesn't look like is required in ODI cricket right now. Ifti & Agha can add depth to spin attack. But Pakistan should go for a left arm spinner, preferably Zafar Gohar but it's too late for experimentation unless he has a really impressive Royal London Cup, so you probably will have to go with Nawaz. It seems like the squad is relatively picked.

1. Fakhar Zaman
2. Imam-ul-Haq
3. Babar Azam (C)
4. Agha Ali Salman
5. Mohammad Rizwan (WK)
6. Iftikhar Ahmed
7. Usama Mir
8. Mohammad Nawaz
9. Shaheen Shah Afridi
10. Naseem Shah
11. Haris Rauf

12. Mohammad Haris
13. Mohammad Wasim Jnr
14. Shadab Khan
15. Ihsanullah

Injury Reserves:
16. Tayyab Tahir
17. Haris Sohail
18. Abdullah Shafique
19. Aamer Jamal

This is the best side I could name.

Usama and Nawaz at 7 and 8? You're begging for a collapse and for the batters up top to play ever slower in the middle overs.

 

[Saj]

Barring a couple of spots, most of the squad picks itself, which is a good thing.

Shadab and Nawaz form is a concern though, but they've left it too late to bring in Imad or anyone else.

 

[Bilal7]

The only real questions are around the fifth pacer and the spinners. Shan should obviously not make it to the WC squad and given how settled our batting is, we should only take one backup batsman.

1) Fakhar
2) Imam
3) Babar (c)
4) Rizwan (wk)
5) Salman
6) Iftikhar
7) Imad
8) Shadab
9) Shaheen
10) Naseem
11) Rauf

12) Mohammad Haris
13) Nawaz/Usama
14) Waseem jnr
15) Ihsanullah/Amir

Mohammad Haris gives us a catch-all backup batsman who can bat anywhere in the lineup, along with being a safe wicket-keeper and a gun fielder. He also has experienced a world cup before and could inject some impetus into the batting lineup, if needed.

I feel that only one of Nawaz and Usama should be on the plane given that we have four spin options in the team already. Imad is currently in better form than either of them, with bat and ball and should make the XI. I personally lean towards Nawaz since Shadab is unlikely to be benched in India.

Waseem jnr could easily replace any of the frontline quicks without lowering the potency of the attack and is obviously in the 15. Given how many matches we'll play, the pacers will be rotated regularly and he'll get his moment to shine and cement himself as one of the starters.

The fifth pace option presents the most headaches. Ihsanullah can be a like for like replacement for Haris Rauf but he's green and hasn't bowler ten overs in an ODI yet. On the other hand, Amir is our most potent new-ball bowlers outside of Shaheen but he has a lot of baggage that the team management may not be comfortable dealing with.

 

[shamaan]

Imaam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris Sohail (If Fit)
Rizwan
Iftikhar
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Rauf

Haris
Agha Salman
Wasim Jnr
Usama Mir

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Imaam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris Sohail (If Fit)
Rizwan
Iftikhar
Imad Wasim
Shadab Khan
Shaheen Afridi
Naseem Shah
Rauf

Haris
Agha Salman
Wasim Jnr
Usama Mir

I generally agree with this, however, Imad hasn’t shown anything bowling wise to be considered for the ODI side. That’s why Nawaz goes in, instead of him. Otherwise this is the squad to take to the WC

 

[Amjid Javed]

No it won't win it.

The team is more then capable of beating England, Aus, India but at same time they still have that WI type stinker of a performance in them.

This world cup will be a run feast and if fakhar does flop early on, the whole batting tempo will be exposed at somepoint.

Semi finals should be a bare minimum aim with it being in Asian conditions, a group stage exit should not be tolerated at all.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Looks like a team that requires near perfect performance in most matches. Not a lot of room for failure.

 

[JibranAnsari]

We will compete well but against stronger teams i dont think we have much of a chance

 

[shamaan]

I generally agree with this, however, Imad hasn’t shown anything bowling wise to be considered for the ODI side. That’s why Nawaz goes in, instead of him. Otherwise this is the squad to take to the WC

I didn't include Nawaz becouse I think he broke his finger and it looked really nasty and hence why Imad comes in to the xi as a batting all rounder who can also open the bowling.Pluss Haris Sohail or Iftikhar can bowl a couple of overs.If Haris Isn't fit enough then Agha comes in at 4 who plays spin well.

 

[CricVet]

We should be in semis with eng, aus, and Ind. Only with sum luck, we can reach Final, and then expect CAPTAIN to screw up.

 

[hitthestump]

Your squad for the 2023 ODI WC

With question marks about Pakistan's participation in India gradually diminishing it's time to move attention away from the 'will we, won't we' and instead consider the best combinations for the conditions we are likely to face.

It seems mostly accepted that Pakistan will opt for a 3 pacers, 3 spinners combination with no room for pace all rounders for this tournament.

My suggested XI:

1 Fakhar
2 Imam
3 Babar (c)
4 Iftikhar
5 Rizwan (wk)
6 Agha Salman
7 Shadab
8 Usama Mir
9 Shaheen
10 Naseem
11 Rauf

Bench: Mohammad Haris (wk), Haris Sohail (fitness dependent), Mohammad Wasim, Ihsanullah

I have gone for Usama Mir over Nawaz/Imad as i think he offers a much bigger wicket taking threat on Indian wickets. Usama is high at number 8, but he is not terrible with the bat and the tail is supported by the much improved batting of Shaheen.

I am less worried about the batting this year as our top three is very solid. Thus i feel we can afford to be very attacking with the bowling. We have a plan B if the main 5 are proving too expensive as Salman and Iftikhar can offer control in the middle overs.

From the bench Haris offers a potential x factor and can open, Haris Sohail slots into the middle order and bowls, Mohammad Wasim has a knack of taking wickets and Ihsanullah can steam in at 150kh/h if needed.

The biggest worry is the lower order - particularly finishing. With Chacha at number 4 there's no guarantee he'll still be there to provide the impetus for the last 10 overs.

I am hoping that by putting faith in the bowling we will keep other teams scores chaseable so that Babar and co. can knock it off without too much sweat.

Pakistan should have a very real chance of winning this cup and that would be so sweet given everything that has gone on in the past few months.